₦airaland Forum

This is a new year and the last thing I want to do is comment with harsh tones because of some people's use of underhanded tactics in downplaying the deliberate, tacit support the northern leadership has been given to bokoharam which is tantamount to community support of these criminal gang.
Now hear this: An Igboman from Adazi Nnukwu in Anambra State was killed by Boko Haram in Mubi and the kinsmen gathered to plan how to take the corpse home. The same Boko Haram people returned and killed 11 of those that gathered to mourn their loved one. As plans were in top gear to move the bodies to the East, government officials seized the bodies to avoid a reprisal attack. Just imagine what would have happened in Onitsha if the 12 bodies were seen as gifts from the North in any of the motor parks. Now what will you call this? Do you know that immediately after that attack there was a mass exodus northerners from almost the whole of the eastern region organized by the northern governors by way of providing them with free buses back to the north safely. Meanwhile Igbos that tried to leave the north were attacked on their way by the so-called "bokoharam" and were clubbed to death. Thesame northern governments went to the families of known terrorists and compensated them with millions to appease while they turn a blind eyes and did nothing to compensate the families of victims of bokoharam violence.
What effort has any of them made to curtail them? It is easy for a diasporan to pontificate on where to push blame but one fact is very glaring here, these attacks are calculated, deliberate and targetted. Of course, it is not every northerner that supports their cause but it can't be denied that these attacks are possible because of the active connivance of many northerners who are both ordinary and wealthy members of the communities.

This is a new year and the last thing I want to do is comment with harsh tones because of some people's use of underhanded tactics in downplaying the deliberate, tacit support the northern leadership has been given to bokoharam which is tantamount to community support of these criminal gang.
Now hear this: An Igboman from Adazi Nnukwu in Anambra State was killed by Boko Haram in Mubi and the kinsmen gathered to plan how to take the corpse home. The same Boko Haram people returned and killed 11 of those that gathered to mourn their loved one. As plans were in top gear to move the bodies to the East, government officials seized the bodies to avoid a reprisal attack. Just imagine what would have happened in Onitsha if the 12 bodies were seen as gifts from the North in any of the motor parks. Now what will you call this? Do you know that immediately after that attack there was a mass exodus northerners from almost the whole of the eastern region organized by the northern governors by way of providing them with free buses back to the north safely. Meanwhile Igbos that tried to leave the north were attacked on their way by the so-called "bokoharam" and were clubbed to death. Thesame northern governments went to the families of known terrorists and compensated them with millions to appease while they turn a blind eyes and did nothing to compensate the families of victims of bokoharam violence.
What effort has any of them made to curtail them? It is easy for a diasporan to pontificate on where to push blame but one fact is very glaring here, these attacks are calculated, deliberate and targetted. Of course, it is not every northerner that supports their cause but it can't be denied that these attacks are possible because of the active connivance of many northerners who are both ordinary and wealthy members of the communities.

To kill people, Boko Haram members use various improvised explosive devices. Soldiers found these can drinks filled with explosives in an abandoned car belonging to members of the Islamic sect God help us!

More of the alleged photos that enraged Nigerians

It was with great dismay that I awoke a few days ago to see the pictorial publications being circulated about my family and me by the on-line media. It has stirred up a great deal of controversy and has portrayed our family in a negative light. The pictures posted were taken over a period of time, some before my mother left the private sector as an ED at Shell to work for the Nigerian government. Although I benefited from a comfortable upbringing I was raised in a fairly strict environment by a military father who insisted that we worked to support ourselves whilst in school. He ensured that we had the basic minimum to support us covering tuition food and transport only. We were all compelled to work to support ourselves and at the same time excel academically. I am a fully qualified engineer who has worked in my area of expertise for the last 2 and half years. I work very hard at my job and like many people across the globe I also party hard. The pictures of my brother with Neyo and Dbanj are typical of the way any young man or woman will react getting somewhat excited when they run into stars whether they be home grown or international. Most people will be more than happy to have their photograph taken with them. As far as the limo ride goes, they are commonly used as airport taxis overseas. Occasionally myself along with my friends and family chip in to pay approx $100 from the airport to our destination. To put this in context it is approximately N16, 500. There were 6 of us in the limo ride, which worked out to be roughly N2000 per head. With regards to the picture of me in the airplane, which by the way was shot almost 2 years ago, the explanation is really quite simple. I was in America to attend the wedding of an old classmate whose parents had chartered a small aircraft to take some of the bride's closest friends and family to the destination. I did what anyone in my shoes would do and took a picture, Facebook is a testament to that. It has been alleged that my family flew to America to attend a party, The event we attended was the Chris Aire event for the unveiling of NIGERIA’S GEM STONES with my Mother in her capacity as the then Minister of Mines & Steel. It was an event designed to promote Nigerian Gem stones. The picture of us on the Red Carpet as we attended the event has also being published. I struggle to fully understand how something that was intended to showcase Nigerian talent and products is now seen as wrong. She also honoured an invitation at the London Stock Exchange to make a presentation; a clear indication that the Gemstone event at Los Angeles had started attracting foreign investors. The picture showing members of my university fraternity and I holding some money was taken several years ago, while I was an undergraduate. It was a requirement of the society that we documented our fund raising success for a charitable course on behalf of the society I belonged to in the university. The society is called Alpha – Phi – Alpha University of Maryland Chapter. Like any young man, I have had my fair share of fun, hanging out and partying I am grateful for the upbringing that I have had. This does not however mean I am immune from the realities of the plight of millions of Nigerians living at or below the poverty line. If the pictures (published out of context) were intended to portray me or my family as insensitive to the plight of millions of Nigerians I can honestly state that this is by no means who we are. What this has taught me however is that, with positions of privilege and leadership come humility and responsibility not only by those in leadership but members of their extended family also. I sincerely apologise to my family and the Nigerian public for any hurt, anger or embarrassment that might have been caused by these pictures, which were taken completely out of context. I will endeavor to ensure that all my actions in future will be sensitive to the plight of all. However I have absolutely no control over this well orchestrated smear campaign, which is mainly directed at my mother, I therefore appeal to Nigerians not to take everything they see or read at face value.

A few days after multiple bombings killed at least 200 people in Kano state, many Igbos living in the Sabon Gari area of the city were seen at a motor park, all trying to leave the city. As early as 8.30 a.m today, luxury buses were seen loading Igbo passengers at the Sabon Gari motor park.
This is the begining of Nigeria's slow but sure descent to disintergration. Obviously, this is the best time for MASSOB to reclaim its credibility and do more than just mere talks. The government of Jonathan is overwhelmed and helpless, the people in his government are not honest or loyal to him. This is also a call to every Igbo persob leaving in other parts of the north, COME back home with your lives intact.

I wonder why other tribes get so sentimental when the name Igbo comes up in issues. All these people claiming that in their states fuel sells at the stated N97 are jokers and pathetic liers. I stay in lagos and I can authoritatively tell you that the situation here is not any different may be slightly lower but many filling stations aint selling at N97 here in Lagos. Even commentators that one would have thought would exercise some maturity and state issues the way they are, are as well getting emotional the sight of the name Igbo. Na wa o.

blackboi:
the year is too young for  what you're asking, spoilt KID

TEMPER + TEMPER = FIREWORKS!!

Obviously your con-man pastor has bastardized yoir psyche to the point you now see him as an all knowing supernatural being that gives order to God at his whims and caprices. Thank God God is not man sha!
If you have got any brain cells you will realize that your Con-man's leadership style is noting like what he preaches, he is into commercialization of the gospel of christ, the gullibilty of his congragation is his market, he will do anything to keep them tamed and fearful of him in a godly manner that is why he has perfected the art of mass indoctrination, mind control and human programming. The man obviously reads occultic books that teach these kind of esoteric knowledge. Why do you think ppl like Jay Z and co sells even when they make direct references through using occultic symbold and references, people still gather en mass to listen to them and even do thesame signs as them. Your pastor and many more of his ilks are no different in their approach except that they use the bible to disguise their learned art of mass seduction, induction and mind control. That is why nobody in his congregation will object to the fact that the MOG has veered off from teaching about the gospel of christ to commercialization of the gospel. His Church revolves around him and his businesses. This man's concept of prosperity is self-aggrandizement and aquisition of material things. He does not even give back. When was the last time you heared that these churches ever did any project that helps the generality of the public. Nigeria today is in dire lack of social amenities like well equipped libraries to engage the minds of young people, recreational centres, centres for indigent pregnant women to recieve free ante-natal and pre-natal care and safe delivery, intitiate free education or feeding programm in selected public schools, even in rural communities where they have their conduit churches there is not even one project you can point to anu of them, yet they can afford private jets, affluent lifestyles, build Universiteis, have olympic size auditoriums, build estates and all that. If the early roman carholic churches that came to africa were more concerned with themselves alone and how to fleece the majority indigent congregation, we wont have missionary school that educated a lot of us and our grand parents. Look at what is going on today in Nigeria, how many of them have been able to look at the government and tell them the truth to their face? In America, it was the church that and a hosr of other political movements that started the civil rights movement, except for Pastor Tunde Bakare who is an activist by nature and caresless about wealth non of your big time pastors are saying anything or supporting the people of Nigeria to take actions to stop the corruption going on. In Imo state it was a the arch bishop of Owerri that led the protest can your money loving MOG do that? Guy open your eyes and see the real thing. . .it is a sdtruggle for the smart and cunning. News Flash:Your pastor is not infalible, he is a human being and yes, he is more into money making than preaxhing the gospel.

I watched Asari Dokubo and his FG paid gang of ruffians two days ago on AIT protesting against the organized labour protest on the street of Portharcourt and acting insane like some possessed evil fiend. Whatever the 4ck they think they are, they don't scare anybody; no one tribe has a monopoly on violence, all that nonsense threat about occupying the rigs and oil well id PEGASSAN shuts down is rubbish. Yes, the oil and rigs are in the niger delta but the investment and facilties used to exploit the oil are not Niger deltans'. It is very stoopid for anyone to attempt to reduce this whole struggle to some tribal war, no be only ijaw people dey south south, other tribes are there as well, they have not made any irrational threat that bois down to personal attacks. Most of the oil rigs are not even in ijaw land yet na them make noise pass, Akwa ibom that currently produces more oil than even rivers never make any noise na all these lazy ogogoro drinking ijaw ruffians wan dey disturb, scheeeew. . . . Come monday, PENGASSAN will shut down and nothing go happen. They act like if they resort to threat everyone will start cringing, abi dem think say all those Yoruba ppl wey dem dey accuse on TV(turning the whole struggle to some stoopid ijaw vs Yoruba thing) no get youths wey fit wreck even worse havoc than they can ever imagine. The highest thing dem go fit do na to begin kidnap or blow up any oil rig installation which wont even affect Yorubas much if it comes to that. Unlike Igbos Most of Yoruba investment is in yoruba land, they can all decide to move back home and still not feel the effect much as they have the most industrialized region in Nigeria and can easily settle in there while they chase your ppl back home who of course will have to join or form a militant group to eat. Somebody should tell those guys to calm the 4ck down and stop asking for what  they aint ready for.

alj harem:
I laugh at your stu,pididty. I am not here to form internet tough man. You live in the best part of lagos which are ajah, VI, Ikoyi, lekki

is that it ? and those places don't have people in them abi ? Only the rich live there ?

it is already seen as an igbo struggle by the country because Channels, DBN, STV showed protest in delta, calabar, edo etc and words on the streets are saying IGBOS SUPPORT HIM BECAUSE OF TRIBALSIM. even to makurdi and lokoja. down to warri and benin-city.



I repeat kill the PENGASSAN because he wanted to strike and watch the events after that.

Goodluck with your quest on tribalism. But I can assure you once it starts, you people would wish you could reverse time.

Enff said

U these ignorant closet tribalist will you keep your dirty mouth shut?? Which Nigerians see what as an Igbo struggle?? Are you high on kunu?? Why does everything have to be about the Igbo man with you? Seriously, if you have got some hate for the Igbo nation you can come out and state it instead this pretentious closet behaviour.
You are not any different from an average almajiri even with an internet connection u still come across as un-lettered and incapable of complex political intrigue. At least, it is on record and I saw it on AIT too that there were protest in Owerri, Abia and little part of enugu. I know what you wish for is for an Igbo youngstar to lose his life then you can be satisfied, fool. You should also lend your voice in threads that condemn the Hausa/fulani killings of defenceless Igbo people in the north, you hypocritical monkey trying to play the victim.

blackboi:
satan the ENEMY is @ this i know. As i knw that no man in his right senses will wanna  beef Christianity/Bishop David Oyedepo Ministries.
Nokia Phones & other SmartPhones products are facing huge piracy palava worldwide, simply because some bad guyz trying to 'make doe'  under the umbrella of these manufacturers. It might interest you to knw that the ENEMY has tried a similar 'thing' (soul winning)  against the Christendom but FAILED! That's why he always captures the mind of "computer literate" guyz (mostly 9airaland members) to convey his mission in corrupting people's mind over the internet. But u knw what? He won't succeed cos he's a loser that he is, he never triumph anywhere near my Jesus .
& to those "guyz" sponsoring ill write ups about Christianity/Bishop David Oyedepo Ministries, stop faking your life! I believe you can contribute meaningfully to this discussion than what satan is whispering into your head:/:/    if u don't want God's subsidy to be removed on your life pls quit opening thread(s) about the above mentioned "super proper noun(s)". Enough is enough! If not u'll turn "computer illiterate" the next time you post trash about what i asked u to stop doing; your finger will cease co-operating with your brain, u will end up typing your dirty secrets to the whole world plus including your personal data & photographs. I beg u, do not trespass O! ( imagine your life without God's subsidy)  forewarned is  forearmed!!! 8-)

make amadioha strike you with chronic body odour, fool.
Who the hell is this stray idiot running hid mouth and cursing his parents. Oyedepo as far as I am concerned is an A-list Con-Artist that cares more about his business empire than anything else. If you hate to hear people say the truth about him go and eat a D!ck, your ranting on the internet only exposes your low I.Q, little wonder the con-man is exploiting your unintelligence. Imagine having a buncha suckers for congregation like this m'oron here threatening his parents. Like pastor like his gullible follower if given a chance you will go bruce lee on anyone that disagrees with you or better still still bribe them out if they become too intimidating.

Hahahahah. . . . This is pure coperate business practice. He prolly wants to be on top of things( i mean he wants to be in control of his business venture).
Is it not a shame that the leadership of churches have degenerated to such a mafian style where the Don senses that some pastors are becoming too popular and influential that they are surreptituosly becoming a threat to perhaps his authority and influence.
Obviously, a lot of them are dissatisfied with his leadership style. Whoever still pays tithe to this man is a cretin that has no use for money.

Petroleum Marketers are fighting back by exposing some of the subsidy deals. They say Nigeria must know that Haruna Momoh the MD of PPMC and Deziani Allison Madueke Minister for Petroleum has been demanding and pocketing N50 per litre of Kero and petrol produced by local Refineries since Jan 2011 till date. The reason they gave to marketers is that it was marketers contribution to Jonathan's election, but it has continued even after the elections. That the govt should probe Nezor SA and Tridax SA two companies owned by the Peroleum Minister run by her junior brother. This two companies in the last 16 month of her tenure has from nowhere become one of the few companies lifting crude oil and one of the largest beneficiary of the subsidy. The marketers want Nigeria to probe the new list of briefcase companies now lifting crude oil because they paid minimum of $1 million to Momoh and Deziani.

Jonathan had better come out and make a categorical statement. nigeiria is gradually drifting into war. As the days go by People are gradually getting frustrated and venting their anger. I fear this might take a destructive twist if he continues to delude himself that he is a who blinks first kind of game with the the people of Nigeria. Retardeen Odechi Jonathan come out and act like a leader.

Some of us are just wishing sha . .lol. . Let's face facts here, impeaching GEJ is tantamount to asking for this country to divide. Did you guys watch the house of rep proceedings at all? Most of the members that supported the removal were Niger Deltans, that tells a lot. Their views of the situation is very different from many of the ordinary Nigerians that support the removal. They on their part feel like the rest of the countries are exploiting the Niger Delta oil without giving enough, it is more about preserving and a gradual control of their own resources than anything else to them. There were even northerners that sounded outrightly condescending and rubbished his abilities. The other guy( a northerner) in an effort to cause more drama in the house and stir more anti-GEJ sentiments amongs Nigerians openly riddicled GEJ's dishonesty in declaring that he was going to cut official travels when actually he had already jetted out of the country with an intimidating retinue to RSA. The igbos obviously sat on the fence as they were neither here or there in during the whole dabte.
Any attempt to remove GEJ will greatly polarise this country and even worsen the case, it will look like that has been the agenda all the while. I am sure the Eastern region will greatly oppose it, even the south westerners will drop the whole protest and become tactical as well, cos it will fast become a struggle for northerners to usurp power through the back door and surreptitous use of other unsuspecting regions's support as the ultimate winner of course will be the northerners who will rather a Namadi Sambo Presidency than GEJ who they obviously do not like.
GEJ had better be careful not to play into their hands as the people urging him do not have his best interest. For instance, when people were busy insinuating that GEJ was in RSA celebrating while Nigeria was in going in flames, his information minister did nothing to debunk the rumours. Despite the fact that he had declared state of emergency in some parts of the North coupled with the heavy presence of the Nigerian forces yet Bokoharamist find it relatively easy to cross states, wreck havoc and disappear unscathed into thin air. He GEJ, has in different occassions admitted that the Nigerian forces were compromised and the Bokoharam group had infiltrated them and his government. To even prove that there are deliberate forces working against his government and the whole insecurity is self-made; take the wild protest that has characterise the north since the begining of this strike yet that would have provided the BokoHaram sect an easy opportunity to wreck more havoc if actually they were killing indiscriminately and careless if one was hausa, muslim or northerner, instead it has been a resounding deaf silence from them. They wont wreck any havoc of course because the ordinary people are doing a great job causing GEJ headaches in a more effective way than their resort to bombing southerners, christians and GEJ's igbo supporters. I know they are hoping and praying to their allah that this protest degenerates to an impeachment proceeding as is being threatened. Little wonder the whole of the eastern region have been exercising reluctance and caution cos we know this could present the aboki's an opportunity to usurp GEJ's government and replace it with Sambo there by consolidating their control once again. We need to be careful what we wish for as a people and dumbo GEJ had better start using his brains before he allows his weak resolve throw this country into a protracted civil war.

abouzaid:
Vanguard newspaper just reported on their website that catholic priests are leading the protest in enugu despite the governors ban on public gatherings. Clearly labour and market leaders have been heavily bribed in the south east. It's a shame if the church and lawyers have to step in. My consolation is that as things get worse in this country, the easterners(igbo,efik,ijaw etc) will always pay the greatest prize. Shameless ppl

it is your people and leaders that are shameless. Why does everything with you Northerners have to be a do-or-die affair?? Where were your people and leaders when Igbos were being killed and victimized in your region by your shameless politicians using BokoHaram as a disguise. How many of you have stood up in courage to rid these killers off your communities and expose the sponsors. From your emirs, imams, sheiks, alfa, mallams,governors, political leaders down to the common hausa/fulani people, you all are cowards and phoney fellows that would rather use others to do your dirty work while you sit back and cheer. Jonathan may be a slow poke with no serious leadership streak but we know that you northerners are on another page in this protest; you guys would rather use thus as an avenue to oust GEJ who has systematically dismantle the norther political oligarchy that has done the most harm to this country. May be their reluctance is because they see through all that pretense and no that you hausas want more than N65 per litre oil price. Perhaps, they know that the systematic killings and direct attack on southerners and Igbos in particular is no co-incidence; at least the fact that Bokoharam has been reluctant to "indiscriminately bomb the hausas and fulanis protesting and camping on the streets of northern states shows that there is more than meet the eyes in this whole brouhahah.

alj harem:
as for the north; yes certainly and they know. Insha Allah

They need to know that people would only follow you irrespective of religion and tribe IF YOU LEAD THEM TO FREEDOM

You cannot support the increase because GEJ is Igbo or so. It is morally wrong

NLC South east has done a terrible job betraying Nigeria by calling off the strike in the south east. I mean it is called NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS not South east labour congress thus they have to follow orders but did not

Do you know today there was activitive in asaba while warri is a ghost town ?

another foolish statement they make is that fuel has always been expensive in the east thus they support it. How foolish indeed. If fuel was even 100 naira in the east, now it would be 250 naira or even more. although that is a lie as usual.

I brought fuel in Anambra state before and even the most rural area fuel was sold for 70-80 naira maximum, so spreading lies that fuel was 100 naira in the east is just funny but people chose to ignore them. Imagine another say pure water was always 10 or 20 naira in the east when I bought it for 5 naira in nnewi

I dey laugh o

Unfortunately for you and your likes, the people of the eastern region are way smarter than your average gwongworo brained almajiri. No amount of lies and twisting of facts can change the fact that easterners have learnt to choose their battles and this one obviously seems to be one of them.
All these vindictive hausa/fulanis think they are smart. . .hahahaha. . Gone are the days when easterners and Igbos in particular take actions like that en mass disregarding what it will portend for them in the future, Nigeria of today has taught us enough lessons to be wiser in the way we wade in into issues.
Like I have always said, choosing to join the protest is a personal choice of every individual, it should not be forced on anyone. For instance, I am Igbo but I totally do not support the subsidy removal, contrary to the nonsense one reads here on NL many Igbos do not support this new policy. It is only Hausa-fulani tribal lackey like yourself that choose to see and percieve what you want to percieve. Just get one thing straight, nobody has the right to force or ban anyone from what they choose to do.

chrisosi:
@asha 80, if they are not protesting, that means they are enjoying the hardship. transport from Owerri to lagos as at Friday is 13500 naira.
as for the people that are praising GEJ, Some of us are not surprise, "Baba" once made a comment that we should ask our "Umuna" what they do with the money allocated for the development of the Iboland. i know one day and which is now, nemesis will surely catch up with all the bad bad people that hv destroyed the iboland

guy abeg comment or argue with perspective and leave all the emotional outburst for Ur babe. Priorities are different, don't let us go into details of how the Nigerian populace especially those from the North and to an extent the SW press have played down the criminal atrocities going on in the North of the deliberate killing of Igbos in this protest which is enough to alienate those whose ppl were directly affected by the systematic genocide going on in the north. Like I said before, if Igbos on their own accord decide that this is one battle they wont give their support to, it should be respected.
Afterall, nobody is carrying placards or protesting the killings of the 20 sth Igbo people that were slaughted in the north. Is it not curious that since the protest began there has not been any report of bomb attack from bokoharam especially in the north? I thought muslims were claiming that bokoharam kills both muslims and christians or both northerners and southerners indiscriminately, yet it can be argued that these large protests in the north and SW could have provided them avenue to make even more bold statements(if that truelly was the case) to the Govt but all we have seen is a deafening silence from them. Igbos have been victimized by Nigeria for too long, they will be stupid to go into protests that will only make them feel used by others.
I am not in support of the subsidy removal and infact protested against it yestarday with others but I am not fooled not to see the discrepancies in intentions and sincerity of purpose across region, tribes and even individuals. To some people it is a fight to remove the PDP and replace it with their own party, to another it is an opportunity to kick out that "despicable Ijaw man" that had the guts to thwart the zoning formular, to others it was a fight to ensure that they continue to exploit the system while to those that wont perticipate, to them it was an opportunity to stop "parasites" from other regions from unjustly enriching themselves with their oil and resources, only true, ordinary Nigerians( that actually feel the pains of this thoughtless policy) are protesting for a better accountable Nigeria, these are the facts and ppl's sentiment. This whole thing has a weird mix of politics and economics to it and as such everyone is being tactical in the way they vent their anger. For long fuel has always sold way higher than N65 in the eastern region where the oil comes from, in PH for instance, the price of fuel per litre in rural areas is not thesame as the urban centres yet that is the site of Nigeria's oil capital, why then should the ppl there care much if there is slight difference from the already very high cost of fuel they buy before?
I have my grouch with this clueless government but I also know that some people are trying to stoke the fire of disturbance to spite the government for their own personal reasons. So if some others see the picture and decided to play it cool even in the face of excruciating hardship then don't hold it against them.

They are showing it now on AIT and it is not a violent mob, they are there protesting the killing of a young man yestarday with NLC officials

Let's get one thing straight, the GEJ administration is lying about saving money from the removal of subsidy as there is no provision for fuel subsidy in the 2012 budget. As such, no money is going to be saved from unbudgeted subsidy. Unless they are going to tax Nigerians to save any money. In this sense the only way he can go back to N65 is if they re-'adjust the budget that have already been passed and then make provision for the subsidy in the budget.

As far as this protest is concerned, it is a personal choice and must not be forced on anyone. I am Igbo and am very involved in the protest but I as well understand the sentiments of those who are reluctant to go out to protest. Everybody has their priorities and ways of dealing with issues. It is not like Ohaneze has told Ndigbo to shun the protest or support anybody's stance. Besides, most of the eastern states are controlled by the PDP and as such will not provide the atmosphere for protest whether peaceful or not.

Nchara:
With you and 1000000s other Igbos over there representing us in the protest, the statement in bold is no longer necessary, no?

lol. . . I don't know what you mean but it is obvious that the Igbo people have been very tactical in this issue, keeping the golden mean between saying too much and saying very little. Even during the debate at the NA one could hardly decipher our stance on the issue . .lol. . Shows a new political consciousness and orientation very different from the past. I kind of like it though, you can neither tell if we were here nor there. . This is very strategic and important for posterity sake, gone are the days when we go it all regardless of what it might portend for our political future.

Queensmith
you are very correct. The man is very much in it. He is just as corrupt as an average Nigerian leader. However, he is as well lame cos obviously, his ministers have outsmarted him and are using it as advantage to steal even more than he intends to steal. It is like the ministers are kind of indirectly getting him to steal so that they can use that as justification to even the more. Look at Madueke, Alison, NNPC and his PDP friends he calls cabal. Everyone has got sth incriminating on eachother so nobody can have any moral justification to go againt anyone's interest. Why do you think GEJ is reluctant to put Madueke or the so-called Cabals in their place? He knows that is too risky. The nigga is not your ordinary smart criminal, he is very dumb amd docile to a fault, no wonder the northerners treat him with disdain. Nigga has got no balls, presence or even the smarts.

Nchara:
Thanks for representing Igbo. You and millions other Igbos there are protesting in Lagos for us. So we do not need to protest again here. Ndewo, nwanna.

hahahahaha. . . Cunning guy!!
Yeah right, we dey represent Igbo. . Lol
guy I dey represent my future Nwanne. I understand how politically strategic the Igbos are going about this whole strike giving past events but I don't think it is right for anyone to discourage or even ban ppl from protesting their displeasure of this policy cos after all said and done the pinch is in my pocket and whatever progress that comes out of it will be for everyone. Let's look at the bigger picture here.

queensmith:
@rymz- triple GBAMZ!!!!

i havent seen it better explained ANYWHERE!!!

the truth is there is actually no money!!! o god! its funny!!
so long story short even if we protest til tommorow they cannot give us back the subsidy shee? chineke!

my sister, the country is not realy broke per se, the fact is that we have an irresponsible government that is trying to cover up it inadequacies by overhauling the system. It is obvious that GEJ is not the kind of leader that Nigeria needs right now, the ministers have hijacked his government knowing that he is intellectually shallow and have little grasp of details. The man is not in control of anything even the speeches he writes do not have his mental contribution in them. He is a 4cking lameduck that is doing a job that is way over his head. Nigeria made a grave mistake voting such a mediocrity. I guess we will have to endure this regret till 2015.

Nchara
Abeg speak fot yourself individually biko. I am igbo and I am very much in solidarity with the strike; matter of fact, I trekked to Yaba to join the protest but unfortunately, I was late.
Make no mistake, choosing to protest is an individual choice and has nothing to do with region or tribe. There are still Yorubas who did not support the strike both at the NA debate and today, at the protest ground. Just like there are Igbos both in the SE/SS who want to protest but do not have the right atmosphere to do so giving the fact that most of the states in the eastern region are PDP controlled states. I was watching most of the contributors today on the fuel subsidy issue on channels TV, many of them were Igbos.

wellmax:
@ stronger
thank you. The point was not really to make our prices at per with our neighbours, but to stop paying for subsidy if much of the fuel end up across the boarders. If and when our refineries begin production, prices will go down. If you then smuggle outside Nigeria, your crime will only be not paying for customs (and why should you not pay if you make so much profit).
Were you also aware that petrol stations in Benin and some parts of Cameroon have been shut down since Nigeria removed subsidy. It appears we have been subsidizing for the entire Ecowas sub region.
God bless Nigeria.

guy if you believe anything from this govt then you will believe anything. If I were you I would ask them to show us facts that there are cases of Nigeria's subsidized fuel crossing to neighbouring countries. How much is the naira equivalent of a litre of fuel in the alleged countries. These guys will say anything to justify the removal of fuel subsidy. By the way, don't you find it weird that same people that are supposed to man our borders are the ones telling us that our oil is smuggled across the border, what an irony. How come you find it hard to address the fact that there is a deliberate effort not to fight corruption in the system. Let's face it, any system that allows for exploitation of course will be taken advantage of, even if it were America. This govt is a cut and nail govt.

I get angry when I hear people talk about some supposed stewpid benefits that will arise from the subsidy removal. It is like some people's brain cells are dead, their ability to think logically especially from past event is seriously flawed.
More annoying are those of us who are privy to the facts and figures and know that there is absolutely no way these ministers mean what they claim they will do with monies they erroneously claimed will be saved from the subsidy removal. These guys and their claims are full of inconsistencies. They talk about savings like there exist monies coming from anywhere; let's not forget that the 2012 budget does not have any provision for subsidy, so which monies are they talking about that will be saved?
I mean, are they going to task the oil marketers and further increase our sufferings cos there is no way they are getting any money from removing subsidy. This is common sense, if there was an allocation already existing for fuel subsidy in the budget and then the government says the money wont be used again for such endeavour but instead they want to channel it to whatever their claims are, then that is simple and a clear cut case of honesty. But in this present case, it is all bizarre stories of non-existent fund that will be used for some American wonder projects that is unprecedented in this country; what a joke! These people realy think everyone is a fool, they can just conjure up stewpid figures and promises and gbam! The problem will just disappear.
Already, Nigerians have continued to ask why there are discripancies in the claims of PPPRA and those of NNPC over the quantity of fuel Nigerians consume per day. GEJ talks about a fictituos powerful cabal like he is helpless and powerless to deal with them; let's be honest to ourselves the main rot is NNPC, all the while, they have been a willing tool, conniving with unscrupulous oil marketers and business men to undermine the purpose of the subsidy scheme. Little wonder they readily went out of their way to dish out money way more than what was budgeted for fuel subsidy to the tune of a trillion naira( this claim also have been proven to be false)even when they did not have the right to do so. Yet Mr President has not taken any step to deal with the compromised goons at NNPC, he probably fears Alison-Madueke might be found wanting, what I see in the handling of the fuel subsidy issue is dereliction of Duty from Mr president to the oil minister down to the NNPC GMD; their leadership style is steeped with irresponsible oversight and the only way they feel they can make amends is to overhaul the entire scheme regardless of whether it will further impoverish the Nigerian populace. They want us, Nigerians to pay more than %100 for fuel for their gross incompetence and irresponsible leadership. These guys obviously do not know what their job description is. Now, they want to cut their nose to spite their face. Nigerians must say no, they must show sincerity of purpose, courage and a resolve to deal with the problems that they caused without having to resort to cut throat shortcuts that only affect the poor while they are shielded from the hardship.

Honeric i am in yaba now and I can't find the protest group na just scores of ppl arguing. Mehn am already tired o, Where dem dey na

Lol, just walked past an angry man yelling and cursing the govt as he treks, soon i will be in yaba

honeric01:
EVERYWHERE! you mean u can't see protesters around where you are? leave lawanson, move to yaba or mushin

i am in ojuelegba already, the place is desert, skeletal vehicular movt. Ppl are very scanty too

PointB:
^^^
Chime understands the long term benefit of the removal. He is one of the very intelligent and hard working governors in Nigeria. He is not a crazy chap.

Nigerians are not crazy chaps either. The only Nigerians that ve supported this fraudulent govt are those whose standard of living wont be affected even if the price is 500 per litre